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Shalom Temple Sinai!

Not only the bulbs are blooming! Shavu’ot is coming, and there is a LOT happening in Vermont to celebrate. At Sinai, I’ll be doing a special Torah (Haftarah, really) study of “Ezekiel’s Vision” and a tea-time reading of the Book of Ruth on Sunday. Then, starting on Thursday will be the Jewish Community of Vermont’s statewide virtual Summit and Concert. As part of that, Judy Alexander will be leading a class on how to make her amazing blintzes, and Temple Sinai and Ohavi Zedek will be leading our annual Tikkun Leil Shavuo’t, an evening of study with clergy and teachers from our two communities starting at 7 pm (schedule details coming soon!)

Also in this email:
– More on Shavu’ot events and celebrations, including virtual concert with Nefesh Mountain
– Blood drive thanks
– Upcoming life cycle and other events
– Special Chodesh Sivan event – Book of Ruth
– Anti-semitism class returns

Shalom Temple Sinai!

As many of you know, I am a big Dan Nichol’s fan so I’m excited about the concert he is doing for us this Friday night. He’ll be coming back when we can reschedule an in-person Shabbat of song and study, but this is lovely way for Temple Sinai to start getting to know Dan and his music. For a decade, Dan has been the most popular musician at Reform NFTY camps around North America, and some larger synagogues have endowed funds for him to come each year for a period to work with their congregations on prayer, music, and developing a genuine and real spiritual life in the face of doubt.

I wanted to share an epiphany I had in December at the Union of Reform Judaism Biennial in Chicago. Several thousand Reform Jews, including lots of teenage and young adult leaders from NFTY Camps, were packed in a big convention hall for Friday night services and song session… –more–

Also in this email:
– Upcoming events
– Anti-Semitism course reprise
– Mi Shebeirach list reminder

Shalom Temple Sinai!

It was so meaningful and moving to see so many of you at Marc Kamhi’s funeral service. It is so hard these days to mourn when we can’t be near one another or have the rituals that help us gain closure, (Please check out Seven Days’ article on grieving to read about Judy Alexander’s experiences with her mom’s death, and Marc Kamhi and his family’s experience as he approached death. Here is a link.) so seeing so many people coming to honor Marc and to be there for his family felt particularly important at this time. Our love goes out to Marc’s family, and especially Laura, Joanna and Reid.

I also know that while some people are getting too much together time right now, others of us are feeling quite lonely and separated from people. Loneliness is built-in to this period of distance, but over time it can start to eat away at our sense of self-esteem, especially when we see stories of people having fabulous cocktail parties and movie screenings with their fabulous fun friends via ZOOM.

Also in this email:
– Upcoming services and events
– Dan Nichols virtual visit
– Teacher Appreciation Shabbat
– Torah Study
– Online class: Parenting Through a Jewish Lens
– Mi Shebeirach List
– MORE!

Shalom Temple Sinai!

I realized that last week, I wrote about the ‘Great Pause,’ and the mirror it offers on our lives. However, for me and many of you, this period has been anything but a pause. For those of use working from home, and especially those of you also taking care of school-aged children, this has been among the busiest and most stressful times in memory. I know that I, personally, have had trouble finding the time and the ‘head-space’ to really let what is happening sink in and have our feelings and reactions.

Also in this email:
– Upcoming services – Beatles Shabbat!
– Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut Service and opportunities
– Online Class: Parenting Through A Jewish Lens – Still a few slots left!
– Neeed some help?
– Mi Shebeirach List – Keep us in the loop